SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A group of 19 K'alemi Dene School students from grades 9 to 12 experienced Nishnawbe culture while learning about post-secondary education and career opportunities in Thunder Bay, Ont., last week.

K'alemi Dene School students listen to stories from Nishnawbe guide, Red Bird at Fort William Historical Park near Thunder Bay, Ont., last week. - photo courtesy of Annie Casson

The students visited the northwestern Ontario community from Oct. 20 to 23 as part of their annual fall trip, designed each year to expose young people to future employment ideas.

On the second day of their journey, they attended the Soaring Indigenous Youth Conference and trade show.

Aboriginal recruiters from various colleges and universities, including Thunder Bay's Lakehead University, met with the students, who also had a chance to meet with aboriginal professionals in a diverse array of career fields.

The students enjoyed hands-on activities related to careers in welding, banking, technology and the military.

"It was a really great chance to meet with aboriginal role models," said teacher Annie Casson, one of four chaperones on the trip.

K'alemi Dene students previously attended the conference in 2011.

The students also toured Lakehead University and met with members of Nishnawbe Aski Nation at the nearby Fort William Historical Park, where they participated in traditional activities such as craft-making and exchanged stories.

"The social demographics of Thunder Bay are similar to Yellowknife," Casson said. "There are many small communities that come there as the hub."

Grade 9 student Dillon Betsina came away from the trip with ideas about a potential career in outdoor recreation following the tour of Lakehead, said Casson.

Meeting new people was one of the highlights of the trip, according to Grade 11 student Brent Betsina.

The traditional activities he experienced with his Nishnawbe hosts resembled his own Yellowknives Dene culture, he said.

"It was familiar to what my tradition is, but for the teepee they used birchbark instead of canvas or caribou hide," he said.

At the trade show he tried out the welding simulator at the Canadian Welding Association's exhibition booth. The eighteen-year-old already has his mind made up about his future career.

"I'm a guy who wants to go into the trades and go to college," he said. "Plumbing and electrician."

This week, the students are pitching ideas for their annual year-end trip. So far, Hawaii and Washington D.C. are in the running, according to Casson.